In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the small community of Bat Cave, North Carolina, is grappling with a harsh reality: they have been left to their own devices.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the federal body responsible for disaster response, has seemingly deserted the town, attributing their absence to a mere "road closed" sign. As the community strives to recover, it's evident that this is another instance of the Biden administration's failure, and the locals are far from satisfied.
Chelsea Atkins, a 38-year-old health researcher originally from Buffalo, NY, expressed her dissatisfaction with FEMA's ineptitude in a conversation with the New York Post. "FEMA called me and told me they wanted to inspect my house, then called me back to say they couldnt drive around the road closed sign. They werent allowed," she disclosed to The Post. "You can drive it by car for sure, its not that bad, you just have to drive around the road closed sign. I explained that to them. They said they couldnt."
Interestingly, the same road was successfully navigated by The Post on its journey to Bat Cave, according to the New York Post. Atkins further revealed, "FEMA hasnt been here. Its been a civilian-run operation since day one. You cant ask the authorities for help theyll say you need to leave. Were handling it. Leave it to us and well get it covered."
While FEMA remains inactive, the robust residents of Bat Cave have taken the initiative. Local apple orchard workers and contractors, armed with chainsaws, have been laboring relentlessly to clear the roads and initiate the rebuilding of their devastated community. Even before the Department of Transportation arrived to assist, these civilians had already paved the way for recovery.
"This has been a civilian-run operation since day one," Atkins reiterated. "Nobodys been bringing in supplies except civilians." Meanwhile, military helicopters hover over the town, a bitter reminder that aid is being dispatched elsewhere, but not to Bat Cave. However, the residents no longer seem perturbed by FEMA's absence.
As the community unites to reconstruct without federal intervention, they have become increasingly skeptical of what the agency's belated arrival might imply. "At this point, I dont care if FEMA comes by. I dont want somebody to pull me out of here, saying Im working in an unsafe spot," stated Curtis McCart, a retired Los Angeles fire department captain and paramedic.
The New York Post reported that while the frail and elderly residents of Bat Cave were evacuated a week ago, those who remained have seen virtually no sign of government agencies, except for a few Louisiana State Police troopers who locals claim have done little to nothing.
The remaining locals have scavenged building materials to fortify homes teetering on the brink of the Broad River, which has swelled to ten times its original width following Helene's destructive path. The town has been bisected, with a 15-foot segment of bridge connecting the two halves destroyed. Although the gap is now bridged with sheet metal, it cannot bear the weight of a car, compelling residents to cross on foot.
The Broad River, which was only 10 yards wide in front of McCarts home before the hurricane, has transformed into a 100-yard-wide riverbed littered with trees, concrete slabs, twisted tin, and powerlines with their transformers still attached.
This degree of incompetence is not unprecedented for FEMA. This is the same agency that previously threatened to arrest civilians and obstruct any volunteer humanitarian efforts attempting to fill the void left by the federal government's failure. The irony is palpable FEMA, which couldn't be bothered to circumnavigate a road sign, has previously asserted the authority to prevent locals from assisting each other, effectively hindering life-saving civilian efforts in past disasters.
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